thanks before vs. after

votive contexts – shipwreck, sickness, childbirth, crisis

votive offerings and their symbolism

Discussion issues –

"There's nothing wrong with me and I hope there won't be; but if after all I get a twist about the stomach or the navel, I have a ring, bought of Phertatus for a drachma"

Dikaios: I don't care a hang for you; I am wearing this ring, bought of Eudamus for a drachma.

Carion: But it is not inscribed "for an informer's bite."

Hagestratus with headaches. He suffered from insomnia on account of headaches. When he came to the Abaton he fell asleep and saw a dream. It seemed to him that the god cured him of his headaches and, making him stand up naked, taught him the lunge used in the pancratium. When day came he departed well, and not long afterwards he won in the pancratium at the Nemean games.

Gorgias of Heracleia with pus. In a battle he had been wounded by an arrow in the lung and for a year and a half had suppurated so badly that he filled sixty-seven basins with pus. While sleeping in the temple he saw a vision. It seemed to him the god extracted the arrow point from his lung. When day came he walked well, holding the point of the arrow in his hands.

Andromache of Epeirus, for the sake of offspring. She slept in the temple and saw a dream. It seemed to her that a handsome boy uncovered her, after that the god touched her with his hand, whereupon a son was born to Andromache from Arybbas.

Asclepius healed Theopompus the Athenian, who was being worn out and drained from tuberculosis, and he urged him on to produce comedies again, since he had made him safe and sound. this is proven by the relief of Theopompus in Parian marble. (The inscription identifies him by his father's name, for he was the son of Tisamenos.) The appearance of the affliction is very visible. The bed itself is also of marble. On it, by the artist's operation, lies the image of him in his sickness. And the god stands nearby and reaches out his healing hand to him There is also a young boy; he is also smiling.

To Artemis the Healer: Huntress and archer, maiden daughter of Zeus and Leto, Artemis to whom are given the recesses of the mountains, this very day send away beyond the North Wind this hateful sickness from our most noble lord; for so above thine altars will Phillipus offer vapor of frankincense, doing goodly sacrifice of a hill-pasturing boar.

To Poseidon, god of the sea: Holy spirit of the great Shaker of Earth, be thou gracious to others also who ply across the Aegean brine; since for me too, chased by the Thracian hurricane, thou didst open out the calm havens to my joy.

To Poseidon of Aegae: Thou who holdest sovereignty of swift-sailing ships, steed-loving god, and the great overhanging cliff of Euboaea, give to thy worshippers a favorable voyage to the City of Ares, when they loose moorings from Syria.

To the God of Canopus: To the god of Canopus, Callistion, wife of Critias, dedicates me, a lamp enriched with twenty wicks, in payment of her vow for her child Apellis; and regarding my spelendors thou wilt say, 'How thou art fallen, O Evening Star!'

To the West Wind: Eudemus dedicates this shrine in the fields to Zephyrus, most bountiful of the winds, who came to aid him at his prayer, that he might right quickly winnow the grain from the ripe ears.

To Artemis: This to thee, Artemis the bright, this statue Cleonymus set up; do thou overshadow this wood rich in game, where thou goest afoot, our lady, over the mountain tossing with foliage, as thou hastest with thy terrible and eager hounds